Images

This is one of the best methods of approximation to the value of square root of 2 used by the Pythagorean brotherhood.

A brass dupondius coin depicting Roman Emperor Didius Julianus (r. 193 CE).

A stone vessel depicting Mictlantecuhtli the Aztec god of death and Lord of the Underworld. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City.

A bronze sestertius from the reign of Roman Emperor Pertinax (183 CE).

The ball court of the Mayan city of Copan. The game was popular across Mesoamerica and the objective was to put a rubber ball through a hoop placed on the side walls.

One of the walls and goals of the ball court in the Maya-Toltec city of Chichen Itza. 1050-1200 CE.

The Classic Period ball court of Monte Alban (150-650 CE). The ball game was popular across Mesoamerica and the objective was to put a rubber ball through a hoop placed high on each wall. Any part of the body could be used except the hands.

One of the goals of the ball court at the Maya-Toltec city of Chichen Itza. The objective of the ball game, popular across Mesoamerica, was to strike a rubber ball through the hoop using any part of the body except the hands.

The Buddhist text known as the Diamond Sutra is believed to be the oldest surviving printed book in the world, dated to 868 CE and written in Chinese. This work is one of the most important works of the Buddhist tradition.

A Sanskrit manuscript copy of the Heart Sutra at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.